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Wrong. Microsoft did not offer any support to paying customers who installed Linux under Virtual Server. Now they provide support if you run Linux from either Red Hat or Novell. Furthermore, the press releasealso has a link to the Linux tools necessary for smooth video and mouse movement. It helps to read a little before commenting.

These pictures show you just how out of touch Intel is with the market these Kiosk based computers are suppose to serve. I mean who are they kidding?!

http://news.com.com/2300-1041-6055894.html

I'm sure they will run Windows, and have hardware base DRM, and be locked down to only allow a few very basic operations. Where as the MIT project will basically allow anything the user desires.

I think Intel was snubbed as a provider of the processors and they are now trying to squash the MIT project big dollars.

a big mac base?
http://news.com.com/Apple+to+ditch+IBM,+switch+to+ Intel+chips/2100-1006_3-5731398.html

1.8 percent of the market..

realistically, 1.8% is a fine percentage of folks to skip, when development and support would cost just as much as for the 98%

kinda like movies that no longer get released in vhs...

But seriously, one girlfriend, in high school, and her friends, after partying too much, "got the munchies" and grabbed a shopping cart and went through a drive in. To them it was uproariously funny. But to tell the truth, I never have heard of anyone walking through.

Speaking of Bill Gates, Ballmer, and Allen, I have a few words. Microsoft fanboys, cut the whining and give it a rest. Everytime any tantalizing gossip is written about Bill & co, sorry but this is fascinating. We may use Linux, abhor Visual Basic, but admire a fellow geek, even respect some of the Microsoft gadgets (Visual Studio, Office) and revel in funny stories - these guys are rock stars for geeks.

Cringely especially has a way with writing hilarious stuff like the time Bill was standing in line to buy a quart of ice cream, scrounging for a 25 cent coupon, when finally a shopper gave him the funds, saying "pay me back when you're a millionaire". True/false? Who cares, at minimum there's a hint of truth. Does it tell us more about the culture at Microsoft, when, as Cringley also writes, when Bill was questioned about developing software for the Apple, or Next (I forget), he said "Develop for it? I'll piss on it!".

So Bill was plotting how to get Allen's share back - that's probably 100% true, it makes sense, Bill is after all first and foremost a businessman, so stop with the hurt feelings. To chastise Cringely, or other slashdot posters as mud slingers is a bit disingenuous. Now Bill is a saint who gives to charities? Sure, very nice, but he's still out to make a buck, as Cringely puts it, to pocket every nickel he can. The whole charity thing is mom's idea anyway, it's great, but no fanboy whining or giving money away is going to change the fact that Bill & co are some pretty ruthless, tough competitors. Not Hitler, no, perhaps more like Genghis Khan .

But as other posters have pointed out, perhaps Bill's arrogance and cutthroat attitude are his own downfall, as it is quite clear the very qualities of Microsoft that have given it it's toehold in the world, so far, are also great reasons why others are now choosing open source alternatives. Or maybe with Google, it really wouldn't matter at all what they did, but having old enemies like Eric Schmidt call the shots at Google can't be helpful.

Roomba Frogger

So .. as the game show used to say .. 'SURVEY SAYS' -> once again, nothing useful because the people surveying are just too dense to realize exactly who these things were designed to serve.

Well, this is exactly the sort of technology that should be designed—ideally—to serve every consumer. Another slashdotter compared ATM technology with McDonalds restaurants. That's an apt comparison on multiple levels, since McDonalds kitchens are designed toward the ultimate goal of intuitive, self-explanatory technology with no learning curve whatsoever. For an closer analog (i.e., a computerized kiosk that really does aspire to this level of lowest-common-denominator appeal and user-friendliness), study modern video poker and video slot machines.

As for the informal survey results, this is what one gets when a survey yields quasi-useful responses from one person; with all due respect to Peggy Baker, we need just a few more views before we go publishing "survey" results. Actually, the article also mentions another (tiny) survey of Australian Vcom ATM users that yielded some insights representing a viewpoint diametrically opposed to the one represented by Ms. Baker. Not surprisingly, it seems as though the article's author wants to make this seem like a case in which users are polarly divided.

TFA

For the third year in a row, Urgo's list of April Fool's Jokes on Websites contains the most complete list of April Fool's Day pranks websites have created. Featured by news.com.com.com.. and Microsoft, the site strives to list EVERY joke site, and is updated every few minutes with new verified jokes.

Here is a sample, the twenty most popular ones:
blog.outer-court.com - Google Rooms
thinkgeek.com - USB Tanning Center, RFID Blocking T-shirt, Grow Your mymsnsearch.com - fake (but hilariously accurate) search results gtachicago.com - gta chicago does not exist, (*hint check the whois info*)
tveps.net - Isaac 'Chef' Hayes not leaving southpark after all. Comes clean that it was a publicity stunt.
iwantoneofthose.com - tiny device that downloads your brain's memory to a 2GB USB Flash Drive
blizzard.com - BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT® PRESENTS BURGERCRAFT(TM)
bolloxcomics.co.uk - Myspace parody
figuiere.net - int is_computer_on(void)
wiebetech.com - 5 TB iPod
googlesystem.blogspot.com - Google Browser is finally launched. Installer 1.68MB
steampowered.com - VALVe purchased by Apple
slashdot.org - OMG!!! PONIES!!! (and pink layout)
ogrish.com - (NSFW) Bizarre Baby Born In Nepal
worldofwarcraft.com - Blizzard to put Wisps as a playable race for World of Warcraft.
gearlog.com - Laptop Lingerie: Bringing Tech & Pleasure Together
2600.com - 200600 google spoof
bungie.net - Bungie's next game, Pimps At Sea, progessing nicely for the Xbox360
forums.worldofwarcraft.com - World of Warcraft 1.11 patch notes leaked
theregister.co.uk - customise The Register to suit your needs - from blocking ads, to selecting the kind of stories you really want to read.

For the third year in a row, Urgo's list of April Fool's Jokes on Websites contains the most complete list of April Fool's Day pranks websites have created. Featured by news.com.com.com.. and Microsoft, the site strives to list EVERY joke site, and is updated every few minutes with new verified jokes.

Here is a sample, the twenty most popular ones:
mymsnsearch.com - fake (but hilariously accurate) search results
thinkgeek.com - USB Tanning Center, RFID Blocking T-shirt, Grow Your Own 1up Mushroom Kit, Caffeine Inhaler, and more
blog.outer-court.com - Google Rooms
gtachicago.com - gta chicago does not exist, (*hint check the whois info*)
tveps.net - Isaac 'Chef' Hayes not leaving southpark after all. Comes clean that it was a publicity stunt.
blizzard.com - BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT® PRESENTS BURGERCRAFT(TM)
iwantoneofthose.com - tiny device that downloads your brain's memory to a 2GB USB Flash Drive
bolloxcomics.co.uk - Myspace parody
wiebetech.com - 5 TB iPod
googlesystem.blogspot.com - Google Browser is finally launched. Installer 1.68MB
figuiere.net - int is_computer_on(void)
steampowered.com - VALVe purchased by Apple
slashdot.org - OMG!!! PONIES!!! (and pink layout)
ogrish.com - (NSFW) Bizarre Baby Born In Nepal
worldofwarcraft.com - Blizzard to put Wisps as a playable race for World of Warcraft.
gearlog.com - Laptop Lingerie: Bringing Tech & Pleasure Together
2600.com - 200600 google spoof
bungie.net - Bungie's next game, Pimps At Sea, progessing nicely for the Xbox360
forums.worldofwarcraft.com - World of Warcraft 1.11 patch notes leaked
theregister.co.uk - customise The Register to suit your needs - from blocking ads, to selecting the kind of stories you really want to read.

For the third year in a row, Urgo's list of April Fool's Jokes on Websites contains the most complete list of April Fool's Day pranks websites have created. Featured by news.com.com.com.. and Microsoft, the site strives to list EVERY joke site, and is updated every few minutes with new verified jokes. wikipedia also contains a sizeable list.

Sample:

tveps.net - Isaac 'Chef' Hayes not leaving southpark after all. Comes clean that it was a publicity stunt.

thinkgeek.com - USB Tanning Center, RFID Blocking T-shirt, Grow Your Own 1up Mushroom Kit, Caffeine Inhaler, and more

theregister.co.uk - customise The Register to suit your needs - from blocking ads, to selecting the kind of stories you really want to read.

worldofwarcraft.com - Blizzard to put Wisps as a playable race for World of Warcraft.

tvpredictions.com - Ready for X-ray TV? New TV picture technology even clearer than HDTV; you can actually see through people's clothing on TV.

blizzard.com - BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT® PRESENTS BURGERCRAFT(TM)

bolloxcomics.co.uk - Myspace parody

bolloxcomics.co.uk - YTMND parody

wiebetech.com - 5 TB iPod

sideshowtoy.com - Half a Darth Maul Figure Exclusive?

slashdot.org - OMG!!! PONIES!!! (and pink layout)

whirlpool.net.au - Telstra will only release 2mbit ADSL2+ in Australia.

forums.worldofwarcraft.com - World of Warcraft 1.11 patch notes leaked

mymsnsearch.com - fake (but hilariously accurate) search results

gearlog.com - Laptop Lingerie: Bringing Tech & Pleasure Together

googlesystem.blogspot.com - Google Browser is finally launched. Installer 1.68MB

sordeo.com - mirror image and the title says, 'Now optimized for those afflicted with Dyslexia'

eternal-lands.com - Free Software Foundation buys Eternal Lands

For the third year in a row, Urgo's list of April Fool's Jokes on Websites contains the most complete list of April Fool's Day pranks websites have created. Featured by news.com.com.com.. and Microsoft, the site strives to list EVERY joke site, and is updated every few minutes with new verified jokes. wikipedia also contains a sizeable list.

Sample
tveps.net - Isaac 'Chef' Hayes not leaving southpark after all. Comes clean that it was a publicity stunt.
thinkgeek.com - USB Tanning Center, RFID Blocking T-shirt, Grow Your Own 1up Mushroom Kit, Caffeine Inhaler, and more
theregister.co.uk - customise The Register to suit your needs - from blocking ads, to selecting the kind of stories you really want to read.
worldofwarcraft.com - Blizzard to put Wisps as a playable race for World of Warcraft.
tvpredictions.com - Ready for X-ray TV? New TV picture technology even clearer than HDTV; you can actually see through people's clothing on TV.
blizzard.com - BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT® PRESENTS BURGERCRAFT(TM)
bolloxcomics.co.uk - Myspace parody
bolloxcomics.co.uk - YTMND parody
wiebetech.com - 5 TB iPod
sideshowtoy.com - Half a Darth Maul Figure Exclusive?
slashdot.org - OMG!!! PONIES!!! (and pink layout)
whirlpool.net.au - Telstra will only release 2mbit ADSL2+ in Australia.
forums.worldofwarcraft.com - World of Warcraft 1.11 patch notes leaked
mymsnsearch.com - fake (but hilariously accurate) search results
gearlog.com - Laptop Lingerie: Bringing Tech & Pleasure Together
googlesystem.blogspot.com - Google Browser is finally launched. Installer 1.68MB
sordeo.com - mirror image and the title says, 'Now optimized for those afflicted with Dyslexia'
eternal-lands.com - Free Software Foundation buys Eternal Lands

I know these are "stupid" questions, on many levels (especially in this venue), but does MSFT even make 200-million Euros a day in sales to the EU? No.

Here's another 'no' - as in 'stupid article typo' no. The fine seems to be in fact up to €2.4M/day (see here for instance) I mean, this has been going on for quite a while now and the fine had been brought up even on /. several times. €200M/day should have looked suspicious to anyone vaguely tracking the thing.

For all of you people who think playing a videogame cannot be as addictive as drugs or can't really do harm..remember..a Korean recently DIED of exaustion playing WOW.

http://news.com.com/2061-10797_3-5825938.html

According to the table (from clicking the image in the article), Windows Live Services will include "Windows Live Favorites" which is listed as having no competitors. Isn't del.icio.us a competitor?

I highly doubt MS is going to shun their own proprietary technology

They're already making the salespitch for their new, improved proprietary technology.

Microsoft EOLs old proprietary technologies to replace them with new flavors all the time. Just look at their history of database access technologies.

Microsoft announced that Office 98 Macintosh Edition would begin shipping later this month--months ahead of their Windows version. This version of Office offers Macintosh users advanced functionality, such as self-repairing applications, not currently available to Windows users.

http://news.com.com/Court+docs+Ballmer+vowed+to+ki ll+Google/2100-1014_3-5846243.html "At some point in the conversation, Mr. Ballmer said: 'Just tell me it's not Google,'" Lucovosky said in his statement. Lucovosky replied that he was joining Google. "At that point, Mr. Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the room hitting a table in his office," Lucovosky recounted, adding that Ballmer then launched into a tirade about Google CEO Eric Schmidt. "I'm going to f***ing bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to f***ing kill Google." Schmidt previously worked for Sun Microsystems and was the CEO of Novell.

Peter Quinn, are you smoking crack again?
what makes you think the "ponytails and sandals set" is cramping linux adoption?
maybe if you wouldn't wear such hideous ties, people might start believing you...

take a look at a bell labs publicity photo of UNIX inventors dennis ritchie and ken thompson working at a pdp-11 console(a paper console at that!)... if the room they were working in wasn't so cold, they'd probably be wearing sandals! and shorts! and drinking lot's of yoohoo!!!

shhh... they were in the process of growing their ponytails when they took this photo, but don't tell peter, or he will call unix a frivolous operating system.

in all seriousness mr. quinn, i think you need to wake up. suits and ties and "appropriate dress" isn't going to make a difference in linux adoption. linux and open source technology will/will not be adopted for a variety of reasons: existing technology, legacy systems, budget, skill set, vendors, etc. dress code is probably not even a blip on the radar of consideration.

  just a thought, but maybe if you had a ponytail, you might have made more headway with your open document initiative... government people would have looked at you and thought "hmmm, ponytail, sandals, tech-talk... he must know what he's talking about!"

There is a difference.

Apple first does new stuff and then after it stabilizes tries to figure out how to add backwardcompatibility. (e.g. Mac OS X got support for Mac OS 9/earlier application not from the start)

M$ always throws backward compatibility from the start. Recall Win9x. Recall WinNT - and why it was considered such a failrure - it wasn't backward compatible enough. Win2k/XP again added another layer of backward compatibility to OS. And alas - they are successful.

There is a difference. M$ - marketing first. Apple? - http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/stevejo bs173475.html :

The people who are doing the work are the moving force behind the Macintosh. My job is to create a space for them, to clear out the rest of the organization and keep it at bay.
        -- Steve Jobs

And then read official news for what Billg/management has to say (e.g. http://news.com.com/Is+Vistas+delay+good+for+the+i ndustry/2008-1016_3-6052768.html?tag=nl) and M$FT blogs for the position of the employees - http://minimsft.blogspot.com/2006/03/vista-2007-fi re-leadership-now.html

M$ is primarily marketing body. While Apple's Jobs understands that it's engineers who are making products (without Jobs, Apple is no better than M$FT - just smaller). Good engineering == good products. There are many really great engineers at M$FT - but it's just they have no voice on what goes into products...

• Hire enough programmers to maintain backward compatibility with their operating systems. (may soon be becoming financially infeasible)
• Drop backward compatibility.
• Employ anticompetitive practices. Flood competitors with patent infringement cases like a Denial of Service attack.

http://news.com.com/Microsofts+file+system+patent+ upheld/2100-1012_3-6025447.html

Microsoft holds the patent to the FAT file system. Most, if not all Linux distributions still ship with support for FAT, including the ability to format and read/write to the filesystem. Taken to court, Linux would lose.

Apple's customers are like no others--a rich blend of the most sociologically elite with those seeking elegant, simple computing... Unlike users of Intel/Windows computers, a significant portion of Apple's users are active , exploratory , avant-garde and early adopters . The activities they enjoy are unique in the way that they more often incorporate rich media such as video and music as well as more active prosumer behavior than many more passive Windows [and Linux] users.

-- MetaFacts, Inc.

With above-average household income and education levels, the Mac population [is] very attractive [ intellectually as well as physically .]

-- Nielsen/NetRatings (as quoted by C|NET)

Either go to CNet's Hosting of the article or use this login.

Username: slashdot25
Password: Slashdot

The article in its entirety if you want to read it here:

Windows Is So Slow, but Why?

By STEVE LOHR and JOHN MARKOFF
Published: March 27, 2006
Back in 1998, the federal government declared that its landmark antitrust suit against the Microsoft Corporation was not merely a matter of law enforcement, but a defense of innovation. The concern was that the company was wielding its market power and its strategy of bundling more and more features into its dominant Windows desktop operating system to thwart competition and stifle innovation.

Windows 95 had 15 million lines of code. That grew to 18 million lines by the time Windows 98 launched, above. Windows XP, released in 2001, has 35 million lines of code.

Eight years later, long after Microsoft lost and then settled the antitrust case, it turns out that Windows is indeed stifling innovation -- at Microsoft.

The company's marathon effort to come up with the a new version of its desktop operating system, called Windows Vista, has repeatedly stalled. Last week, in the latest setback, Microsoft conceded that Vista would not be ready for consumers until January, missing the holiday sales season, to the chagrin of personal computer makers and electronics retailers -- and those computer users eager to move up from Windows XP, a five-year-old product.

In those five years, Apple Computer has turned out four new versions of its Macintosh operating system, beating Microsoft to market with features that will be in Vista, like desktop search, advanced 3-D graphics and "widgets," an array of small, single-purpose programs like news tickers, traffic reports and weather maps.

So what's wrong with Microsoft? There is, after all, no shortage of smart software engineers working at the corporate campus in Redmond, Wash. The problem, it seems, is largely that Microsoft's past success and its bundling strategy have become a weakness. Windows runs on 330 million personal computers worldwide. Three hundred PC manufacturers around the world install Windows on their machines; thousands of devices like printers, scanners and music players plug into Windows computers; and tens of thousands of third-party software applications run on Windows. And a crucial reason Microsoft holds more than 90 percent of the PC operating system market is that the company strains to make sure software and hardware that ran on previous versions of Windows will also work on the new one -- compatibility, in computing terms.

As a result, each new version of Windows carries the baggage of its past. As Windows has grown, the technical challenge has become increasingly daunting. Several thousand engineers have labored to build and test Windows Vista, a sprawling, complex software construction project with 50 million lines of code, or more than 40 percent larger than Windows XP.

"Windows is now so big and onerous because of the size of its code base, the size of its ecosystem and its insistence on compatibility with the legacy hardware and software, that it just slows everything down," observed David B. Yoffie, a professor at the Harvard Business School. "That's why a company like Apple has such an easier time of innovation."

Microsoft certainly understands the problem, the need to change and the potential long-term threat to its business from rivals like Apple, the free Linux operating system, and from companies like Google that distribute software as a service over the Internet. In an internal memo last October, Ray Ozzie, chief technical officer, who joined Microsoft last year, wrote, "Complexity kills. It sucks the life out of developers, it makes products difficult to plan, build and test, it introduces security challenges and it causes end-user and administrator frustration."

Last Mon

Apple's customers are like no others--a rich blend of the most sociologically elite with those seeking elegant, simple computing... Unlike users of Intel/Windows computers, a significant portion of Apple's users are active , exploratory , avant-garde and early adopters . The activities they enjoy are unique in the way that they more often incorporate rich media such as video and music as well as more active prosumer behavior than many more passive Windows [and Linux] users.

-- MetaFacts, Inc.

With above-average household income and education levels, the Mac population [is] very attractive [ intellectually as well as physically .]

-- Nielsen/NetRatings (as quoted by C|NET)

Even if you were correct, which isn't the case:

AAPL 23-Dec-05: 73.35$
AAPL 24-Mar-06: 59.96$

Wich looks more like 20% to me ...

AAPL still looks like the better investment compared to DELL:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=1y&s=AAPL&l=on&z=m &q=l&c=DELL

And to explane the ACs joke to you: He/she was referring to Michael Dell who in 1997 answered the question what he'd do to save Apple: "What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders".

This year Steve Jobs sent an e-mail to his employees, when Apples market capitalization surpassed that of DELL on January 13: "Team, it turned out that Michael Dell wasn't perfect at predicting the future. Based on today's stock market close, Apple is worth more than Dell. Stocks go up and down, and things may be different tomorrow, but I thought it was worth a moment of reflection today. Steve."

Uh, any chance this has to do with the fact that Microsoft began expensing stock options - http://news.com.com/Microsoft+to+award+stock,+nix+ options/2100-1014_3-1023840.html

- or that employees are pissed about the review system or lack of pay increases over the last 3 years - http://www.washtech.org/news/industry/display.php? ID_Content=5041?

Until the late 90's, an engineer could work at Microsoft for 10-15 years and retire. That made them a lot more willing to tolerate constant death marches and ridiculously unrealistic product schedules. I suspect the current crop of engineers realized that weren't going to become billionaires anytime soon and weren't willing to make the same sacrifices. This is probably not the last we'll see of this sort of thing from Microsoft.

Upper management is certainly hard at work trying to figure out how to get Indian and Chinese developers working on Vienna.

Apple's customers are like no others--a rich blend of the most sociologically elite with those seeking elegant, simple computing... Unlike users of Intel/Windows computers, a significant portion of Apple's users are active , exploratory , avant-garde and early adopters . The activities they enjoy are unique in the way that they more often incorporate rich media such as video and music as well as more active prosumer behavior than many more passive Windows [and Linux] users.

a MetaFacts, Inc.

With above-average household income and education levels, the Mac population [is] very attractive [ intellectually as well as physically .]

a Nielsen/NetRatings (as quoted by C|NET)

I'm amazed that you can actually find a computer that comes with anything other than Windows pre-installed.

Dell has had a "no-os" pc option for some time now. http://news.com.com/Dell+offers+an+open-source+PC/ 2100-1042_3-5888427.html

But CPUs and other logic chips rarely make headlines with such spectacular failures once tested and distributed in products.

Sorry to respond to my own post, but MS Office is under the same pressure to be released to businesses as Vista is. http://news.com.com/Microsoft+Office+2007+to+be+la te%2C+too/2100-1012_3-6053504.html

I have no doubt that Vista and Office will be released to businesses in 2006 in some form or another.

Perhaps this article will clarify Microsoft's view of Java for you:

http://news.com.com/2009-1001-215854.html

Also, this document describes Microsoft's apparent (lack of) regard for HTML, of all things:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/webtools/demoroniser/

Oh, hell -- just go to this website, read 'em and weep:

http://www.microsuck.com/

To put it bluntly, Microsoft has absolutely no regard for open, broadly supported standards because they hinder its program of total, absolute domination of the computer markets. Lest you think I'm just a ranting anti-Gates nutjob, here's a quote from a pro-Microsoft puff piece that ran as a cover story in Time magazine: "Microsoft's goal is to have some version of Windows ...running on every computer, everywhere." THAT, by definition, is a monopoly. (Wonder why that little bit of info wasn't introduced in the federal anti-trust case?...)

In fact, Microsoft can't even stick to its *own* standards! Look at how they deliberately break support for filetypes of older versions of their apps, coercing Microsoft customers into purchasing newer, costlier, fatter, and *buggier* versions -- otherwise their valuable documents would become unreadable to everyone else who climbed the perpetual upgrade ladder! Gee, thanks Bill Gates, now I have both Steve Jobs *and* you on my Hope-They-Die-A-Nasty-Death list.

Btw, this is a long-disgruntled Apple II user talking here. Steve Jobs can take his iPod *and* his iMac and shove 'em!

MS might be offering a cheap Xbox360 dev kit for around $100.

Not sure how they'd handle making/testing binaries. Maybe you'd have a secure PC -> X360 connection dongle for testing purposes, and have to contact MS when your game is ready for publishing on Xbox Live (or pressed to discs, for really big games.)

Dirt cheap compared to what Microsoft are charging? I don't think so...

But at the Game Developers Conference here on Tuesday, the rumor is that Microsoft plans on announcing Wednesday a developers kit that would make it possible for anyone to build games for the console, or for PCs, and that the kit will cost only about $100.

It doesn't matter what zig or zag Apple takes, the Applepologists will rationalize it.

Look how they pretend that they are an alternative to Microsoft when Bill Gates has always maintained Apple as a sort of minimum security prison for people who shy away from Microsoft. I don't know how apple fans can look themselves in the face after that little stunt. The sad thing is, they could have jumped on the OSS bandwagon then when it really meant something. Instead, they rationalized away and still do.

"...what is stopping Google from forming their own publicly-available routed IP network?"

Nothing. More proof the Larry & Sergey have a crysta ball (or at least sold their souls).

Well we have flying cars, but I doubt we will see them take off... Errr... No pun intended.

The reason we don't have flying cars today is the highest unnatural cause of death in the United States is car accidents. Could you imagine what would happen if a drunk driver go into a vehicle that could fly 10,000 ft at 300mph into a building or other cars?

So flying cars and jet packs aren't a reality because of humans inability to control moving vehicles with 100% no-accident rate. Once we have pure AI driving our cars it might be more feasible, but we are looking at 2020 at the earliest.

I wonder how this case is going to deal with existing ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz in the 2002 case Access Now and Robert Gumson v. Southwest Airlines Co. (pdf) stating that Southwest did not have to redesign its website to be more accessible to the blind.

The 11 Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in 2004.

I have to say that I'm very much against these rulings. Making websites accessible to the blind is trivial if the website is designed properly in the first place. It's only difficult if you mash the damn thing up with bad flash and poorly coded javascript.

I wonder how this case is going to deal with existing ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz in the 2002 case Access Now and Robert Gumson v. Southwest Airlines Co. (pdf) stating that Southwest did not have to redesign its website to be more accessible to the blind.

The 11 Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in 2004.

I have to say that I'm very much against these rulings. Making websites accessible to the blind is trivial if the website is designed properly in the first place. It's only difficult if you mash the damn thing up with bad flash and poorly coded javascript.

Classics had 2 things going for them. they either:
A. Left a lot to your imagination in terms of graphics or story, or
B. Gave you fantastic twitch gameplay

But the classics that still stand today are the ones with the twitch game play: Pac Man, Galaxan, Mario Bros, Tetris, etc.

I think we'll see a revival of "new classics" soon through venues like the Xbox Live arcade. I mean look at Geometry Wars or Wik. Those games totally embody what made the twitch type classic games great but they're done with and actually utilize modern technology.

As for MS allowing people to make their own content, it's coming soon.

It'll be interesting to watch how cautiously they approach this launch. After the Google Analytics launch debarcle I'll watch intensely at how much they've learned.

Dell's move into the HDTV market seems to have been rather successful. Dell 50" Plasma TV

While normal people continue to buy a lot of computers from Dell.

Oh comon, they are just trying to cover-up getting slashdotted!

New.com article "Sun Grid hit by network attack" : http://news.com.com/2100-7349_3-6052968.html

I haven't let development model politics cloud my judgement in order to get the job done. Isn't that how it should be?

For you, perhaps.

For others, the politics are very important.

For me, it's all about the ethics. Microsoft has behaved unethically; that is enough for me to avoid their products. I don't give my lunch money to the school bully.

Has it made my life more difficult? Perhaps. But the important issues usually are difficult.

Wrong...

Linux has fewer bugs per 1000 lines of code than any rival.
http://www.wired.com/news/linux/0,1411,66022,00.ht ml
http://news.com.com/Security+research+suggests+Lin ux+has+fewer+flaws/2100-1002_3-5489804.html

etc...

Office usually doesn't ship exactly on time either. See this article about 2003. Even 2007 is behind schedule. However, we're usually talking weeks or months with Office and often years with Windows.

So Oracle is losing business to open source alternatives because one part of one company is switching to EnterpriseDB and because of an anecdotal quote?

Wow. Spare me the spin.

Isn't it also possible that the far cheaper closed source alternatives are getting a little business as well?

Oracle has always been pricey, but for a long time their DB features were hard to beat. Competitors, both closed and open, and finally getting to the point where they are on all levels with Oracle.

The key phrases here are 'claim' and 'their platform'. What about cross platform web applications I ask you?!

"which they claim will greatly reduce the effort in developing AJAX style applications on their platform."

How about ACID2 complicance in IE7 or implementing the features developers are asking for:

http://annevankesteren.nl/2005/03/ie7-wishlist
http://news.com.com/Next+Explorer+to+fail+Acid+tes t/2100-1032_3-5813897.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/03/09/391362 .aspx

http://news.com.com/Build-it-yourself+cell+phones/ 2100-1008_3-5953682.html?tag=nefd.lede

http://www.kinderstart.com:8080/kindertoday/addPos tingForm

I'm submitting this story:

http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-1011740.html

Thanks AKAImBatman!

"Classic. Maybe they need to pony up and get their name in the adsense block?!?!? "

Make that a NON-FUNCTIONAL AdSense block..

Sounds like they may have been involved in some click fraud schemes..

Or they're just using the obsolete code or broke some other rule... (like overlapping graphics.)

From KinderStart's home page..

"<!-- AdSense Code (07-10-2003, Garry) //-->
<!-- Updated 04-13-2004 //-->"

Notice the dates of the AdSense updates.....